Hitler's Last Gamble: The Battle of the Bulge, December 1944-January 1945 [Hardcover]

Trevor Nevitt Dupuy (Author), David L. Bongard (Author), Richard C. Anderson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1994

Drawn from research conducted by a team of military experts under the direction of historian Trevor Dupuy, this book is the most complete and detailed account of the Battle of the Bulge ever written, covering all aspects of the campaign on both sides. 32 pages of photos; 20 maps.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Marshaled as if this text were itself a military operations manual, the facts presented here trace 100 units that fought in the Ardennes forest 50 years ago. Dupuy, author of dozens of military books, claims for this the ultimate place for comprehensive research on the campaign, and the bewildering factual phalanx of weaponry specs, tactical deployments, weather reports, and casualty counts compells agreement with the assertion. The U.S. Army was impressed enough to use Dupuy's information in a database. So on December 16, 1944, the German forces began an offensive that achieved complete surprise. Dupuy and his co-writers unfold minute-by-minute the German units' progress, loss of impetus, and repulse. The prodigious amount of detail does yield some revisions--that fighting around St. Vith, rather than Bastogne (famed for the "Nuts!" retort to a German surrender demand), turned the tide in favor of the Americans--and so readers attuned to the anniversary and steeped in militarese might favor this work over the dozen in-print oral histories or pictorial works. Gilbert Taylor

Product Details

• Hardcover: 565 pages
• Publisher: Harpercollins; 1st edition (November 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060166274
• ISBN-13: 978-0060166274
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 5.8 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,082,158 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interested in the Bulge? Read this book later..but read it., February 10, 2001

By 

George G. Kiefer (Sevierville, TN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hitler"s Last Gamble : The Battle of the Bulge, December 1944-January 1945 (Hardcover)

Research is the strength of this work, not the telling of a major battle. It is difficult for the reader to grasp the overall view of this clash as it is layered over with detail upon detail. From mass movements to small skirmishes, it is told in the driest of writing style. The usual complaint levied against military books, inadequate maps, can not be claimed here. The maps are numerous and like the work itself, detailed. As a reference tool the book is invaluable and for this it merits the rating given. An interesting read it is not but it does belongs on the shelf of those with a serious interest in the Bulge.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the best accounts available.., April 25, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Hitler's Last Gamble: The Battle of the Bulge, December 1944-January 1945 (Paperback)

An excellent blow-by-blow account of the battle. However, like the real battle, much less interesting toward the end. The book also has an annoying tendency to vary widely in its approach: at one moment it is a real soldiers story, with intimate portrayals of courage; and at another moment a dry, sholarly presentation of military movements. Although this may describe many military books, this book can be particularly annoying in its vacillation. Overall, though, one of the best books on the subject. My rating of "8" is a relative comparison to other Bulge books I have read

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quality Coverage of the Campaign, July 7, 2009

By 

Dave Schranck "Dave" (Anaheim Ca) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hitler's Last Gamble: The Battle of the Bulge, December 1944-January 1945 (Paperback)

This book was rated 4 stars not for lack of quality but because the books by Hugh Cole and Charles MacDonald are more comprehensive and are 5 star books. There are 22 chapters including the Epilogue and an equal number of quality black and white maps. The book begins with the conditions in the Ardennes couple months before the assault. It describes Hitler's decision for the assault as well for the reasons the Allies became lax and over confident about a quick end of the war. The next couple chapters cover German dispositions and preparations and the Allied deployments. The next chapter before the assault coverage begins is whether the German Offensive could have been foreseen. His answer is Yes. The battle coverage begins with chapters on Krinkelter Wald, Schnee Eifel, Skyline Drive, Sauer River, St Vith, Bastogne and it continues to the end of the operation at end of Jan 1945. The tactical coverage is straight forward and, I thought, interesting for it was written by a veteran. For every engagement there is a good map to help you follow the action.
The main book ends on page 370 but there is another 295 pages of additional info including an extensive index which will help you find what you need. The Epilogue asks 16 questions about the campaign and author replies to each question. There are also eight appendices that adds further background info and statistics to the main story. There are also good photos of the battlefields and of the soldiers and commanders. This is a quality rendition of an important American campaign and is worth your consideration.